‘NaviGate Prepared’ system designed to improve safety technology
CHARLOTTE — Imagine an armed intruder tries to sneak in a side door at Charlotte Catholic High School. Or a fire starts inside Holy Trinity Middle School, and not every student can be accounted for after the building is evacuated. Or there is a hostage situation in a classroom at St. Michael School.
Sadly, emergency scenarios such as these are not unimaginable, and the recent spate of school shootings around the country have prompted school leaders to take a careful look at the security and safety at all of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 19 schools.
“The safety of our students is a top priority,” Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan superintendent of schools, assured parents, teachers and students following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that killed 17 people. After that tragedy, diocesan school leaders sought to strengthen their security measures, which already include regular school safety drills, “active shooter” training for staff, strictly controlled building access points, and more.
As part of this security initiative, a “security and threat assessment” was undertaken by active and retired Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officers at all 19 schools. Their recommendations for each school were recently evaluated and shared with the principals; Anthony Morlando, director of diocesan properties and risk management; Ritter; and other diocesan leaders.
“Each school received specific recommendations,” Morlando said. “Besides additional training for faculty, staff and students, other recommendations included adding card readers on access doors, more cameras, double-entry door vestibules to better control access from the front entranceway, controlling or restricting access from other entryways besides the front door, and directing access to the front office instead of hallways.”
Safety improvements such as these were made at several of the schools over the summer.
Additional recommendations are still being evaluated and implemented at each school.
In addition, the diocese is investing in a new emergency response safety system that will assist school officials and first responders before, during and after a crisis.
The system – called NaviGate Prepared – uses cloud-based technology to securely organize important emergency preparedness plans and associated information, such as call lists, personnel photos, building maps, color-coded floor plans and 360-degree photographs of important building areas such as classrooms, offices, hallways and emergency exits.
Highly secure, the system offers authorized users in the diocese and first responders – including 911 dispatchers – immediate, real-time access to this safety information from any web-authorized device. No matter the severity of the situation, emergency response teams can rapidly and easily access the cloud-based system, even if a building is inaccessible.
“Moving forward in this direction is a most positive step for our schools and demonstrates in a very concrete way the emphasis placed on school safety by diocesan leadership,” Ritter said.
In an emergency, NaviGate Prepared includes the ability to integrate floor plans and reunification procedures, tap into live security camera feeds and quickly locate critical resources such as gas, water and electrical shut-off valves, entrances and exits, designated evacuation sites, individual classroom numbers and more.
Additionally, NaviGate Prepared features an integrated and secure mobile application that allows staff to account for students by name, while also providing instant access to emergency and crisis plans for use during training drills and emergencies.
With the aid of this system, school staff will be able to quickly identify if a child is not accounted for when a school is evacuated, first responders will be able to view a building layout during a hostage situation, and much more.
In addition to heightening school safety, NaviGate Prepared will also aid school leaders in the preparation of annual safety planning documentation and will provide school administrators with the ability to easily schedule, manage and track annual safety training drills.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
HUNTERSVILLE — Christ the King High School has received approval from the Diocese of Charlotte to begin a capital campaign in the spring of 2019 to build a state-of-the-art gymnasium, theater and multipurpose complex.
“Christ the King is blessed to have the full support of the diocese,” said Dr. Carl Semmler, principal. “In the past, the MACS Capital Fee has supported the school with over $20 million in projects. With continued guidance from the diocese and full support from our constituents, I am excited about our future.”
This summer school leaders are consulting with architects, diocesan officials and a committee of parents, benefactors and administration to finalize the vision and details of the space.
Key features of the complex are expected to include new men’s and women’s locker rooms, a stage, a fitness center and increased seating for spectators.
“This is a natural progression for a school that has grown from 28 students to over 300 in seven years,” Semmler noted.
As a part of its overall planning, Christ the King High School recently completed a campaign planning study. Eighty-nine percent of respondents demonstrated support for a capital campaign.
In response to the study, Semmler said that he is amazed at the enthusiasm from the community to support the school. He said he is confident parents, prospective parents, community members, businesses and benefactors will take Christ the King High School to the next level.
“I can’t wait to sit in the new complex enjoying a school musical, basketball game or First Friday Mass,” he said.
— Catholic News Herald